Rejected Mate and Following Fate

We make light work of moving fast in unison and tracking back down the corridor towards the main entrance to the grand staircase. Sierra takes the lead and Carmen runs behind the witch and I, both of them in wolf form, as we start our search for the infamous Juan. My heart’s pounding through my chest because I know radar will be hot on our heels and Colton is going to be so mad about this. His fury will know zero bounds when he finds out I disobeyed him and ran from Radar and the Luna’s guard, but my gut tells me to trust Sierra and do this. Sierra has a point and finding Juan first, pushing him out there for easy access may be the cure to this war and the end to this night’s battle. If we shackle him and hand him over to Varro then there’s less chance of Juan being killed in the process and maybe I can beg Varro to protect Sierra’s life in keeping him alive for the rest of his.

We barely make it to the open entrance and foot of the stair when a thudding troupe of huge fierce wolves moving stealthily come at us from behind, reckless fleeing, and Carmen growls as warning. The impending doom of an angry pack. I shiver at the arrival because despite being his Luna, I know radar will scold me into next week.

Luna, stop! Wait… Don’t do this! Radar’s voice comes through like a bullet to the brain, harsh and direct, not concealing his anger and anxiety that we’re taking matters into our own hands. Leyanne doesn’t hesitate and turns to them with a blinding poof of something she throws in the air. A slight movement of hand with devastating results and I can’t fault that witch for her reflexes. A spark, a flash, a thick cloying smog that chokes the space up behind us and brings them all to a dead halt as we venture on and quicken to escape them. Whatever it is, it serves well to startle them, and we leave them in our tracks. It smells like burned rubber and old ash.

“Sorry pets but needs must. Be good little pups and guard the door, we have company coming.” She sing songs back at them, brazen as always, concealed by the haze of grey smoke in the darkness and I blanche with a quick glance back before following Sierra up the staircase. Clinging to her rump like a helpless child to help move me faster while still in human form. My powers are pointless and not being able to transform feels like I’m a dead weight who can only follow their lead.

“Why are we shaking them off when they could be helping by following?” I retort, out of breath from exertion and she lights up the hall for us with her palms once more. That gentle glow which has surprising ability to shine the way clear. Perplexed at my own uselessness and leaving our capable guards behind.

“Because he’s too obedient and he won’t let any of us step a foot further in this pursuit. The fates want us girls to handle things for now, else we wouldn’t have ended up here like this.” Leyanne is always so self-assured and I do wonder if she has the ability to read the future. If maybe she’s a waking seer, someone who can see beyond time while going about her daily business. It’s rare but it would explain her ability to know things.

“But still….” I start and trail off when Sierra turns and throws me a dark amber glare, hushing me and I get the message loud and clear. She doesn’t want Radar up there with us when she faces down Juan because she knows he would shield and intervene, and Sierra wouldn’t get within ten feet of that monster. Radar would put himself in the firing line always and I can feel Sierra’s desire to eb the one to bring Juan down. It’s out there like a thick aura around us and I worry she may be blinded by her own hatred of the man and not thinking straight.

We get up the spiral incline and into the long corridor which splits to sleeping quarters and a second stairway. Blinking momentarily and trying to make a decision on direction when Carmen sticks her nose in the air and heads for the passage up ahead of us to another level. She seems to know where to go and her sense of smell has always been top notch. Without a word we all follow, swift and silent, without second guessing her ability. My nerves eating me raw and making me shiver with anticipation but all I can do is keep moving forward and pushing down the nauseating worry. It’s dark and Leyanne’s glow is the only things taking the edge off the eerie creepiness of being in the manor while it feels abandoned.

We end up moving this way up three flights to the fourth floor, the place where Sierra’s wing with Juan all these years is located, and I wonder if he’s hiding in his own bedroom. A coward like him, it seems fitting somehow. To be hiding in the dark corner by his bed, hopefully trembling at the impending doom of his long reign.

I can sense Radar behind us and it throws me a little, not far, keeping his distance so Leyanne doesn’t startle bomb them again and it gives me reassurance knowing he won’t flake on his duty to protect. He’s given up swaying us and has decided obedience and caution is better. He knows how stubborn I can be, and that Sierra isn’t afraid of him in the slightest. Keeping close enough to watch. Sierra and Carmen seem oblivious to them but the witch glances back and fixes a smug smile on her lips as though telling me she feels them too and somehow knew they would back us up. I just cannot work her out sometimes.

long narrow corridor which leads to the west wing: the master bedroom in the top corner of this manor. The lord’s boudoir, so to speak. And Leyanne lets her glow fade to nothing at all so our night vision all kicks in perfectly and prepares us for what we assume is a darker space. The air around us is thick with dust and tension, all poised and quiet for a moment while Carmen and Sierra turn back

and that rearing up of fear and doubt swirling in my belly now I can feel the presence of wolve son the other side. We know he won’t be alone, but we have no idea how many of his minions are left.

when I tell him I have zero authority over you anymore.” He

still?” Carmen’s craning at the door to listen through the thick wood and pauses before reaching to touch the handle with caution. I notice her sniffing the air first to check for wolfsbane and then she

anything. Waiting maybe.” Radar moves me aside and slides up next to her, looking at the door and he too evaluates it. “I have no idea if they are sleeping, or just poised for

Sierra snorts, the hatred evident for Juan and she gets so impatient with the stalling she shoves Radar out of her way and grabs the handle herself, yanking it down and heaves the door forward with

gives me a new sense of safety. Into immediate guard mode as they flank us, and await instruction from Radar rather than their Luna. There’s a creak, a groan, and then the heavy scuffing noise of the

before I notice the sitting figures dotted around the room, all seemingly poised yet do absolutely nothing at our appearance. My heart drops and my insides flutter at this weird anticlimax. I do not trust these men and I feel like this is way weirder than I could have imagined and gawp at the fact they remain as they are

one arm propped under his chin, so

himself directly in front of Sierra in a protective manner. That cocky confidence on show of a seasoned warrior who is ready to go at it in

He seems to have changed so drastically since the last time I laid eye son him and I wonder if he really has lost all

haggard and have lost any kind of alpha energy you once possessed. You’re a sad old wolf with hopes of grandeur and zero ability. Give it up before you hurt yourself!”

is stale and sparks with heightened tension. A feeling in this place of unease and I shift closer to Carmen who is now beside me. She grabs my hand and yanks me to her side before clawing up

he sniggers at his own words and I catch a glimpse of Sierra shifting forward before Radar steps in front of her and

moves closer to him to shorten the space between them and leave Sierra where she stands. I flinch, eyeing up the other wolves in this room, all eyes honed in on us but yet they don’t

Juan laughs again, that mighty and snarly sound as though he’s in possession of some great superior secret. His noise curdles my blood and I start to perspire with this invading nervous